The Lesson in Abundance

The 15th of Shvat is a call to share our wealth.

And who were God's rent collectors? The poor and the landless, including those priestly celebrants and teachers who owned no piece of earth and whose earthly task was to teach and celebrate.

These mystics saw a deep significance in giving. They said that to eat without blessing the Tree was robbery and to eat without feeding others was robbery. Worse! Because without blessing and sharing, the flow of abundance would choke and stop.

Tu Bishvat approaches once again. The trees of the world are in danger; the poor of the world are in need; the teachers and celebrants of the world are at risk.

Give! Or the flow of abundance will choke on the friction of its own outpouring, and God’s Own Self will choke on our refusal of compassion.